Trending Now - Georgia Dad Convicted in School Shooting Case Raises Concerns
WHO:
Colin Gray, 55, father of Colt Gray, the accused shooter
Colt Gray, 14 at the time of the shooting, now 16
Barrow County District Attorney Brad Smith
Prosecutor Patricia Brooks
Teachers killed: Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53
Students killed: Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14
Marcee Gray, Colt's mother, who testified in court
WHAT:
Colin Gray was convicted of:
Two counts of second-degree murder
Two counts of involuntary manslaughter
18 counts of cruelty to children
5 counts of reckless conduct
Jury deliberated for less than two hours before reaching a verdict on March 3, 2026.
Gray faces a potential sentence of 10 to 30 years for each murder charge and 1 to 10 years for each manslaughter charge.
Colt Gray used an AR-15-style rifle to carry out the shooting at Apalachee High School, killing four people and injuring nine others.
The shooting occurred on September 4, 2024.
Colt Gray has pleaded not guilty to 55 felony counts, including malice murder.
WHERE:
Apalachee High School, Winder, Georgia, northeast of Atlanta
Barrow County courthouse, Georgia
WHEN:
Shooting occurred on September 4, 2024
Verdict delivered on March 3, 2026
Status hearing for Colt Gray set for mid-March 2026
WHY:
Prosecutors argued that Colin Gray provided his son with access to a firearm and ammunition despite knowing about his deteriorating mental health.
Gray's actions were described as "criminal negligence" for disregarding risks associated with his son's mental state and access to firearms.
HOW:
Colin Gray gave his son the AR-15-style rifle as a Christmas gift and allowed him access to it.
Evidence presented included body-camera footage from a May 21, 2023, visit by law enforcement after an online threat was reported.
Testimony revealed that Marcee Gray had urged Colin Gray to secure the firearms prior to the shooting.
Prosecutors highlighted multiple warning signs regarding Colt's mental health and obsession with school shootings.
QUOTES:
Barrow County District Attorney Brad Smith: “We talk a lot about rights in our country... But God gave us a duty to protect our children.”
Colin Gray during testimony: “I could have done better.”
Prosecutor Patricia Brooks: “That man and his son are both responsible for the immense suffering that occurred on September 4.”
Colin Gray was convicted on March 3, 2026, of two counts of second-degree murder and multiple counts of involuntary manslaughter and cruelty to children, following a tragic shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, where his son Colt Gray used an AR-15-style rifle to kill four people and injure nine others. The jury deliberated for less than two hours before reaching their verdict, and Colin Gray now faces a potential sentence of 10 to 30 years for each murder charge, while his son, who was 14 at the time of the shooting, has pleaded not guilty to 55 felony counts, including malice murder. Prosecutors argued that Colin Gray's actions were a clear case of criminal negligence, as he provided his son with access to the firearm despite being aware of his deteriorating mental health, with Barrow County District Attorney Brad Smith emphasizing the duty to protect children.